Loyally, Luke

This is a self-aware hallmark movie book. Incredibly enjoyable and will leave you with all of the warm and fuzzies. Be sure to check out the audiobook. Great cast with fantastic accents.

I received an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher.

LUKE. I loved Izzy and adored Penelope, but LUKE. LUKE WAS PERFECT. The way this was written with as many romcom tropes and cliches in it, while Luke constantly talks about hating romcoms and hallmark movies is PERFECTION. I absolutely loved it. It had just the right amount of snark, sass, and swoon. The audio was also great! As someone who listened to the first two as well, I could tell the voices for Izzy and Penelope were different, but I still loved them! And Luke’s narration was spot on.

Loved!

This is the third book in the Skymar series. Luke was featured in the first two and whole this is a standalone story, it is best enjoyed having read the others. You really come to understand the family relationship and Luke's personality in those books before getting to his story.

I will begin by mentioning that I listened to this book, as I did the others. I really thought the narrators, especially the male narrator, made the story in the other books. His accents were perfection. This audiobook is a bit different than the others. They each had a male and a female narrator. This one has a FULL CAST! This is the first book I have listened to with a full cast reading it. I loved it so much! I received an advanced audio copy from Netgalley, and Zondervan Fiction Audio and Thomas Nelson. I specifically didn't request an advanced ebook because I knew I wanted to listen to this. That being said, I would have liked to follow along in the ebook some just to see how the print version compared to cast's reading, especially the text messages.

This book does not contain as many emails or text messages as the previous 2 books, and the only negative feeling about the audio I had was the reading of all of the descriptions of the emails especially. I would like to see if this one was written like the others and just read differently because of the different characters or not. But either way, I loved listening to the book!

And I loved the story! It had tongue in cheek nods to romance tropes and Hallmark movies. It was fabulously written. I laughed so many times. And Luke is just the sweetest big lug of a guy there is!

While I did receive the complimentary audio, I am happily and voluntarily leaving my honest review.

My heart is full is full to bursting with bibliophile rapture! I. Can’t. Even….

My brain is scrambled and my tummy hurts from laughing so hard and my knees are still buckling in preparation for a swoon every time I stand. Because Luke is the hero of my heart. The best of all book boyfriends.

I’ve anticipated this book since first meeting Luke in ‘Authentically Izzy’ to the point I was almost nervous to read it because my expectations were so high. Happy to report that Pepper Basham did not disappoint and neither did the stellar cast of performers who narrated the audio book. Seven narrators!!! Christopher Ashman, K.C. Sheridan, Kathleen McInerney, Natalie Duke, Gary Furlong, Caitlin Davies and Mhairi Morrison. They all did a brilliant job of bringing these characters to life and I think avid audio ‘readers’ will be thrilled with their listening experience. I sure was!

So…if you’ve been following this series, ‘Loyally Luke’ delivers exactly what you’d expect…times a billion! So much fun! The meet-cute! Snicker. Cue the banter that doesn’t let up the whole read through. And let me tell you, I was already in love with grumpy Luke, but flirty Luke about did me in. My fainting couch needs new springs!

One thing I found interesting is that the author mixed up the format in this third book where the emails and messages are interspersed with ‘live action’ scenes. If you’ve read one of the other books in this series, this will make sense (I hope) but if you haven’t, I’ve likely totally confused you. Explanation: The first two books are written in epistolary format for the first half and then switching to a combination of emails/texts and ‘in the moment’ POVs for the rest of the story. In this one, there’s definitely less emails and texting and the book starts on in real time with Luke just off the plane as he arrives in Skymar. I enjoy both styles, but I know some people aren’t a fan of epistolary novels so this strikes a happy medium.

We still get enough Izzy and Penelope (and even Josephine) input (Luke’s sisters/cousin) through their correspondence, which kept me grinning, because they go all Disney Princess on him in a big way much to his consternation. There are so many wonderfully clever movie references which become quite hysterical because it’s Luke realizing he’s caught in the snare of one of his sisters’ romcoms. He kept needing to watch Rambo to centre himself. Bwahahaha! But there is no getting away from all those romantic tropes!

And his princess’s story? Heartbreaking and inspiring. The paparazzi — Gah! We occasionally get the point of view of a gossip columnist which set me off every time. (And scary to contemplate, but Pepper Basham would make an excellent tabloid reporter!)

Gah — there’s so much more to gush over but this review is way too long. You just need to read this book — the whole series, really — and then we can form a Luke fan club and gush to our hearts content.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

I have enjoyed this fun series and Loyally, Luke was a great addition to it. Luke is such a likable, good guy, not to mention swoon-worthy flannel loving carpenter. He is in Skymar to do some remodel work. As the only boy in a family of three sisters, two biological and one a cousin raised by his parents, Luke knows more about girl movies than a fellow should. To compensate, he watches plenty of action flicks, like Rambo, Mission Impossible, and others. This is a lighthearted and humorous story with laugh out loud moments and with many sweet and romantic ones as Luke works on an orphanage with and develops a friendship with Ellie, a real princess. There is an attraction but how can a country boy from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina have more with a real princess? Sweet romance with a foundation of faith. I recommend for those who love romance in an impossible situation.

Loyally, Luke is a sweet Christian romance. I really enjoyed reading this novel! Luke is working on a renovation project when he meets Ella. Just as their romance begins, he finds out her secret: she’s a princess! The plot was great as well as the romance. I loved the characters. The only criticism I have is that there could have been more faith content. Highly recommend this book and will definitely be reading more by this author. I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in trade for my honest opinion. My thoughts are my own.

YouTube Review: 05/08/24
YouTube Handle: KeenCat

I knew going into this book I would fall for Luke after getting a peek at his character in the first two books in this series, but I didn't' realize I would fall for him this hard. What a fantastic hero!
This story was charming. It felt like a warm summer day or a sweet hug. The characters were all so genuine and I absolutely loved how the story itself was written with a full cast, featuring dual POV and some delightful texts and messages between other characters. The audiobook version was delightful to listen to as it featured a full cast production and each narrator did so well with their individual characters, it brought it to life, I could have been watching a Hallmark movie listening to this story.
Speaking of Hallmark, this story cracked me up with all the funny references to Hallmark movies and their common plots and tropes. I loved the way the author wove that into the plot itself. It just added to the overall charm. The royal falling for a commoner and overcoming obstacles, including hidden identity, was so sweet.
Back to Luke and my new found crush on him as a fictional character, I loved so much how he SAW Ellie for who she truly was and the way he made even her smallest dreams come true. He's practically perfect. I enjoyed their moments together so much.
If you're in the mood for a cute, feel-good novel, make sure to pick this book up.
I listened to an advance listening copy of this novel from Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio on Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I recommend this book.

Loyally, Luke is the third book in the Skymar series. While I think you might have some better understanding of the family dynamics in Luke's family if you've read the previous books, I do think this could be enjoyed as a standalone as well.

I must admit, I didn't expect to love this book nearly as much as I did. While I enjoyed the previous two books in the series enough to keep reading them, they weren't my favorite books by Pepper Basham. Part of that, I think, was the epistolary style that those were written in. I enjoyed them by the end, but it always took me a little longer to get into. While this book does have a lot of fantastic sibling text threads and emails too, it's overall written in a more traditional style. That definitely may have played a part in my enjoyment, but honestly, a lot of that was just Luke himself. This was such a great character. I'd enjoyed him in the previous books, but his own love story was absolute perfection. Growing up the only boy, he knows more than he'd like about Hallmark movies and romcoms... but her certainly never planned to be living one in real life! And yet, that's exactly what happens when he finds himself falling for a real-life princess. I loved the pop culture references and his need to balance out his sisters influence with action flicks... but he's ultimately the biggest sweetheart and it was hard not to be charmed by this fantastic story. There were so many moments that had me laughing out loud and I couldn't get enough.

If you're looking for a great Christian romance that will have you laughing out loud and swooning at the same time, this is absolutely one not to be missed.

As for the audiobook version, it was fantastically done too. The narrators did an amazing job of bringing this story to life!

**I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley for consideration. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this story. I have enjoyed the other books in this series because I think the characters are fun and imperfect but I love seeing them find their true loves. I loved how Luke fell for a princess and the impossibility of their situation. I liked how their romance developed and how the author was able to come up with a believable solution for them being together. I loved how the story is a mix of text messages and narration. I think that makes the story unique and a fun one to read. I would definitely recommend this book and this whole series. I also loved the narrators and how they read the story.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

The writing was amazing and interesting at the same time. The characters were well penned down so that we as a reader can easily relate and understand them.
Right from the starting till the end, it was interesting and had my attention to the fullest. Plus in audiobook format it was fabulous.
I love it.

Oh my, how I loved these two and their love story! Literally had the cutest Hallmark, GAC, and Christian values/influence which I loved! I'm so glad I got to read this in audiobook form the whole cast was fantastic! The accents were amazing and beautiful.

The writing is engaging and rich with emotion. The dialogue is snappy and genuine, which made the interactions between characters incredibly enjoyable. The setting, with its small-town charm, added an extra layer of coziness to the story. It was a feel-good romance that left me smiling long after I turned the last page. It's a book I'd recommend to anyone looking for a story about love, loyalty, and finding happiness in unexpected places

This book is easily my favorite in the trilogy! Although this can be read as a stan alone, I do think you need to read the previous two books in order to appreciate Luke’s total Luke-ness. It placed our favorite flannel wearing, southern drawl accented Grinch at the heart of the most rom-commy rom-com of all time and I loved every minute.

This book was by far the best in the series! The balance between correspondence and "in person" interactions was absolutely perfect and the full cast helped really bring it to life. While this story did feel a little long at times but it was still really well done!

The story of Luke and Ellie was all the best parts of a romantic Hallmark Channel Movie! I enjoyed the Penelope and Izzy were still very much present in this book as much as the others.

The full cast in this book was even better than the last one! I really hope this is not the last time we will be in Skymar!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book and audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own." Thank you Thomas Nelson for the opportunity.
Luke Edgewood, the third unmarried Edgewood, has made it to Skymar to help with a couple construction projects. Little did he know what he was getting into. There would be royal run-ins, fun with children at the orphanage and many other humorous moments. Will he end up a with his movie script love story?
Pepper Basham is so good at interweaving humor with sweet moments and then also mixing in faith elements. I enjoyed this book so much and I was overjoyed to get an Arc of the audio as well.
The narrators, Christopher Ashman; K.C. Sheridan; Kathleen McInerney; Natalie Duke; Gary Furlong; Caitlin Davies; Mhairi Morrison were tremendous. I so enjoyed the voice of Luke in the other books and knew that I wanted to listen to this one as well. I know there were some changes in the narrator of Izzy and Penelope but because it has been awhile since I listened to those books that I didn’t find the differences all that noticeable. The voices of all of the narrators fit the characters well, but especially Christopher Ashman as Luke. I also think that the narrators did very good with the accents. The use of the different narrators definitely help with the understanding of the book because of the somewhat epistolary format of this book.
I would recommend this book to all those readers of Christian fiction books who love fairy tale type stories. One might even consider it a flipped fairytale story. The faith element is more on the light side, so if they bothers you this might now be the book for you. I loved it in both formats.

This was super sweet!

This whole trilogy is so sweet, cozy, and funny! But it isn’t all fluff and kissing. In between and mixed in with the romance, is quite a bit of really good advice (and movie quotes too!).

If you love romantic comedies, good guys wearing flannel, or anything royal, I think you will love this!

I really enjoyed listening to the audio version of this book! The full cast production helped keep the characters straight and the accents are fantastic!!

Huge thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson, and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the opportunity to experience this fabulous audiobook!

CW: cancer (recounted), death of parents (mentioned), alcoholism (mentioned), gaslighting, classism

I would like to thank NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing me with a free audio e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Luke Edgewood has no need for what he calls “the fru-fru” of Hallmark movies in his life. But, when he gets tasked to spearhead a major renovation for an orphanage in Skymar, Luke’s life turns into one.

Loyally, Luke is a heartwarming novel that left me grinning from ear to ear. Readers who love Basham’s swoon-worthy romance in the previous two books of the Skymar series will have their fill of swoon as Luke falls in love with a Skymarian princess, Ellie, and he doesn’t even know it.

Since I have listened to each book in the series on audio, I definitely noticed that Basham and her team went all out with the narration/production. Narrated by a full cast of narrators, each of the narrators brought their own narration styles that made the characters come to life from the page in Basham’s least epistolary novel of the series. However, I do note that the only downside to having this many narrators on hand is that you don’t get that duet narration between the love interests as you would have if you were listening to Authentically, Izzy or Positively, Penelope.

What I love most about Loyally, Luke is how Basham is able to get you swept in the heart of the story. Feeling the characters’ emotion from the book’s narration to the book’s main themes of grace and hope, it’s hard not to get invested in these characters and in this story. As it may be the last book of the Skymar series, Basham also takes time to nicely wrap the character arcs from the other Edgewood family members as they all get their HEAs.

That being said, you need to read Loyally, Luke if you’re looking for a Christian romance full of heart and an audiobook narration that will get you completely swept away.

Pepper Basham did it again! What a fun way to end this series with Luke Edgewood, brother and cousin to Izzy and Penelope (check out Authentically Izzy and Positively Penelope to read their stories that are equally as fun!). Luke is a non-sensical, flannel wearing, hammer yielding, country boy from NC who finds himself in Skymar, a country off the coast of Scotland, to help remodel a castle turned orphanage. Of course since he is not interested in or looking for anything remotely relating to romance, and then he meets a girl... but not just any girl. One who happens to be a princess. Something that everyone knows except him.

I loved the story and as I listened on audio, the narrators brought Luke and Ellie to life. The hilarity of the situations reminded me of my favorite rom-coms of the 90's (Notting Hill was a big one that came to mind!) and made me smile and laugh. Yes, it is "hallmark-y" - it will give you the warm fuzzies and I think we all can use a break from the craziness of this world to enjoy that!

Thank you Net Galley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the ARC of this audiobook to listen and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Love, love, love this book! I was able to read an ebook ARC and love the audiobook narration that was done by this ensemble group. Great job putting this one together! Pepper Basham is the Queen of Christian Rom Com books and this one is her best yet!

Loyally, Luke. By Pepper Basham is a sweet romance between honest carpenter Luke and Ellie /Eliana Princess of Skymar.
This book really is like reading a Hallmark movie which Luke hates. He's a flannel wearing action movie loving tough guy. Except he has a big heart for his sisters and orphans. He is honest and straightforward and the kind of things girls really want in a partner.
Ellie is the fifth daughter of the royal family of Skymar. She's a recovering addict with a bad reputation she's trying to rebuild after years of hard work. Life in the spotlight had left her with a few wounds and trust issues.
Luke and Ellie are thrown together working on restoring an old orphanage. They start out fighting and then become friends and then more.
They have some impossible circumstances to overcome.
This is a very sweet little rom-com and an enjoyable listen.
I like the different voices in the audio version it gave each of the characters a little more personality to follow.
The text conversations between Luke and his sisters adds a lot of joy and laughter to the story
Thank you to netgalley for this audiobook. This review was given voluntarily and all views expressed are my own.

If you’re looking for a good choice to make in your life, choose to listen to this audiobook as soon as possible. It was ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL 🤩. From the full cast of narrators (6!!!) with incredible accents to the various styles used (narrative, texts, emails, “gossip” articles), all of it made for a listening experience that was pure bliss! I didn’t want it to end!!

As an avid cheerleader for the first book in the series, I surprise myself when I say I might have enjoyed this one even more. It seamlessly continues on the series, and it was so fun to get more of Izzy’s and Penelope’s story in this book (including a wedding!)

Beyond being just a wonderfully sweet and swoony romance story, it held some elements that were a bit deeper and thought-provoking than is common: the impact/power the online world can have over past mistakes never being forgotten, the importance of involving other trusted people in big life decisions, and how healthy communication is so important!

😇: Christian publisher (); brief mentions of Christian themes and active faith in the characters
😍: a few descriptive kisses
🤐: no language!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for the complimentary audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

I was so happy to listen to the audiobook of this third Edgewood family story! I love the fictitious setting of the Island of Skymar with it's loyal inhabitants. I love the teasing between the siblings and how they encourage one another. Read Authentically, Izzy and Positively, Penelope first, then dig into Luke's story!

I received this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

So when I started this audiobook, I did not realize that it was the third in the series! But I did not feel like I was missing any key or vital information to understand or enjoy this book. Thank goodness for interconnected stand-alones!

This book felt like a breath of fresh air. It was such a fun, light romance with just enough drama to be entertaining and make me want to keep reading! I loved the sibling/cousin relationships highlighted throughout the book. Luke had his own little cheerleading squad and I was here for it! Ellie’s growth throughout this book is so tender and I was excited to watch her become the women that God meant for her to be!

The book follows the story of Luke and Ellie as they navigate a renovation project for an orphanage. They have VERY different backgrounds, but are able to find common ground and help each other grow and move beyond past hurts and trauma.

The audiobook has a fantastic cast and the consistency with accents and personality for each character was so immersive!

All opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for this audiobook copy.

Loyally, Luke by Pepper D. Basham

Narrated by: Christopher Ashman, K.C. Sheridan, Kathleen McInerney, Natalie Duke, Gary Furlong, Caitlin Davies, and Mhairi Morrison

FIVE STARS


This book was adorable!

Luke is making it through life, through a series of events he is in Skymar with an opportunity to bid on and work on a project fixing up the county orphanage. As the only boy raised with three girls he overcompensates a bit on the "masculine" part of things. Some found it annoying, it just was what it was to me.



Ellie is a princess trying to get her life back on track after a series of poor choices. The Royal family has a place in Skymar where they can live normally and they also care for the orphanage. Ellie is trying to get back to active royal status and is in charge of overseeing the renovations.



Luke and Ellie do NOT get off on the right foot and her royal status goes unknown for some time which gives them a chance to get to know each other.



This book had a host of narrators, all who were perfect. Christopher Ashman, K.C. Sheridan, Kathleen McInerney, Natalie Duke, Gary Furlong, Caitlin Davies, and Mhairi Morrison were all awesome!



Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, and the author for the opportunity to listen to and review this book.

O my goodness this upcoming release by Pepper Basham is like stepping into a Hallmark movie, but one that takes place in Europe instead of a Christmas Tree Farm 😉

Luke’s commitment to simplicity and solitude is tested when he finds himself entangled with a Grace Kelly look-alike who, spoiler alert, just so happens to be a princess 🤫. From restoring an orphanage to navigating the expectations of being a royal, this book is a delightful blend of romance and adventure.

With all the makings of a romantic comedy this is definitely a book that will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside!

This book! What a fabulous ending to a lovely family series! I was enraptured with the voices! The accents! The beauty of this book shown through in this portrayal of all the characters! I loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to listen, all thoughts and opinions are my own!

I’m from South Mississippi, so when I say I’m the authority on southern charm in narration— believe me. Luke in this audiobook hit the absolute nail on the head! He even used “ain’t” without sounding like he hurt himself. You know when Hallmark season comes around and you get all cozy and warm feeling just thinking about their movie lineup? And your husband, dad, brother, and uncle all just roll their eyes? Luke is the embodiment of that! However, you can tell that he has resigned himself to his fate being in a house full of sisters. It reminded me so much of my own brother and how he would always reluctantly let us choose the movie every now and then. I also grew up in a builder’s home, so that was very nostalgic for me. Basically, Luke would hate to hear it, but I felt like I was in a Hallmark movie the WHOLE TIME!

Ellie trying to reinvent herself was also very relatable, because haven’t we all been young and dumb once? The shame she feels about her past choices is an element of my own reality that endeared her to me. I love that the people around her didn’t try to sugarcoat her past, but consistently pointed her to the present life she was working so hard in. I loved the Scottish lilt to the narration for her voice, as well. But what can I say? We love to hear ourselves and the southern accents will always win out for me.

Luke's cousin and sister found love in Skymar and so naturally, his sister thought he'd follow the same trend. He disagreed of course. He was only there on a short-term construction job. That was until he bumped into annoying Ellie who turned out to be in charge of the job he was undertaking to restore a castle-like orphanage.

I enjoyed this so much! Their first meeting had them both at each other's throats after their coffee orders were switched, they weren't so thrilled when they found out they'd be working together. I couldn't get enough of Penelope's predictions of how Luke's life would play out like a Hallmark movie and it was 😂

Finding out Ellie was a princess definitely put a damper on their budding romance but they fought to keep their friendship intact as Luke's departure drew near.

I loved the steadiness with which Luke carried himself. He reminded Ellie to give herself grace in that her shaky past needn't affect her demeanor. She brought him out of his shell and I loved them for each other.

My highlight was the audiobook. It made the experience even more enjoyable. I laughed out loud a number of times and flew through the story. All the narrators did an amazing job.

What a wonderful conclusion to the Skymar series! Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an audiobook arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

I enjoyed this book and the characters. The storyline was on point and you could feel the love between Luke and the Princess and how much they were struggling with trying to deny their attraction due to her being a princess and Luke a commoner.

Always love a HEA ending and this one did not disappoint. Definitely one I would recommend to others. First time reading this author and will definitely be reading more from her!

Thank you to HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Pepper Basham and NetGalley for an ARC audio copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!

WOW! I had high hopes for this book and it blew right past them! Such a fun, witty, full of banter book that had me smiling and giggling as I was listening (I'm sure those passing by me on my daily walks thought I was a little loony!)

While this is the third book in a series, this was my first time reading both the series and this author - I will 100% being going back and reading/listening to the other two books and Pepper Basham is now added to my auto buy author list.

this book gave the perfect balance of clean romance (enemies to lovers) and banter which made it such a refreshing read/listen compared to some other more popular romance authors.

Would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a summery-vibe romance novel to take to the beach this summer!

Loyally, Luke by Pepper Basham is a part of a series but can easily be read as a standalone novel. I read one of the other books in this series and enjoyed it, but it was not my favorite. Reading this book as an audiobook completely changed my perspective. The audiobook is narrated by a group of people and they really bring the book to life. As an audiobook, the brilliance of Ms Basham’s fun plot really shines. The plot is a sweet romance and yes predictable. However, readers of this genre expect this. If you like sweet romance, you will adore this book. I received a review copy of the audiobook from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Oh, man...This one is so stinkin' good! It is hands down the best royal romance I've ever read. Emma St. Clair is so right with her quote on the cover...Luke is beyond dreamy. The swoon is strong with this one. I did read this book before the previous ones in the series, but now that I've also fallen in love with Izzy and Penelope, I'll be backtracking into their stories soon!

This was my first Pepper Basham book and I loved how she wove Christian themes throughout without being super in your face about it. I know that can be a reader complaint sometimes and I think she did an excellent job of letting her faith speak for itself, but not too loudly. I'm definitely looking forward to checking out her backlog and any new books she releases in the future. I'm absolutely hooked on Pepper's writing style. ❤️

Ellie...What a perfect princess! She had a tough past reputation to overcome, but she did exactly that with grace and poise. I love how genuine Ellie seems, how dedicated she is to serving her people. Even though she is a huge deal as a famous royal, she's just so down to earth and lovable. One of my favorite FMCs lately for sure!

Luke...Oh, my. This man is a top tier book boyfriend for sure. He's absolutely my type so that of course helps, but he's also just an incredibly decent guy. He loves his family and friends with ferocity and just truly loves living a simple life. Throw in a bit of flannel and coffee...What's not to love?!

Things I loved...the epistolary portions of the story (specifically Luke's conversations with his sisters and Ellie's talks with Maeve), Luke's relationships with Faye, Amara, and Jamie, the entire world of Skymar, Gordon and Nessa, all the movie references, the humor (I laughed so much), the voice acting for the audiobook (top notch - one of the best I've ever listened to), and so much more.

Don't sleep on this one. Grab a copy and get to reading today!

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson, Zondervan Fiction Audio, and Pepper Basham for access to a free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️

Audio Book Review
Loyally Luke by Pepper Basham

Genre: Modern Rom-Com; Christian
Romance Level: Kisses only

What I loved:
Luke (enough said)
Meet Cute
Forced Proximity
Rivals to more
Looking for the names scene
Fake dating
Alley scene
The kisses
The list
Fishing
And so much more!

Story Review:
Luke. Luke Edgewood is this unforgettable character who is “rough around the edges”, sarcastic, loves making fun of his sis “Penny Girl aka Penelope” (in a fun brotherly sort of way), and your typical outdoorsy, manly man. Underneath the surface, he is “ooey gooey”, tender, loving, and fiercely loyal to his family. He has a good heart and even though he isn’t perfect, his heart is in the right place.
The romance in this including all of the kissing scenes is all just so *chef’s kiss*.
And I really liked princess Ellie! She was a fun character and had some really funny lines. She is so perfect for Luke!
I loved this story; definitely my favorite of the 3 Skymar romances by Pepper Basham. It has so many tropes because of course Penny Girl has mapped out Luke’s love story and wants him to live out every single rom-com trope. Lol!
From fake dating, to forbidden romance, to a bit of enemies to more, Pepper definitely packed in so much rom-com goodness into this beautifully hilarious and entertaining story.
I definitely snickered, sighed, swooned and almost cried with joy and excitement during so many of the scenes.
This is also a story of redemption and change and becoming a better person despite what the world or media tries to portray.

Audio Review:
I loved the cast! They all did so well. I especially love who did the voice for Luke. He had a perfectly grumpy, sarcastic and handsome voice. But you could also feel the underlying goodness coming out in him. Christopher Ashman plays Luke in the first two as well.
I also just loved the narrator for Maeve; perfect blend of smooth and Scottish lilt.
I highly recommend listening to this series as audiobooks because they are all so excellent!

I was given a free copy of the audio from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Content Warning: kisses only, no swearing, uses of word: s*xy
Trigger Warning: discussion of hard topics: cancer, slandered on media, alcoholism and rehab

This is the audiobook. I'm going to paste my book review below. But let me say that I truly loved listening to this book. It did not take away from the voices I heard in my head. Yes, I know, that sounds bad. But normally when I read a book I have their voices and faces in my head and it's like I'm actually watching a movie. I thoroughly enjoyed the voice of this audiobook. It was relaxing but also kept me listening and hooked on the story!

I literally could not wait to read this book. You see, I’ve read the other two in the series and the wait time between them is not for the faint of heart. Penelope and Izzy came first in this series. They’re both amazing and I loved their stories. You can find my reviews for them on my blog as well. While I identified with them in some areas I think I identify with Luke more. I’m not comfortable in the spotlight. I don’t want to be famous. Oh, and I prefer my animals to other people most of the time. I’m an introvert you see. And people can be too much sometimes.

Luke accepts a job on Skymar. It’s a construction project. And it’s on an old historical building. These are things Luke enjoys. But he’s not here for romance. Just because his two sisters have found romance involving this island doesn’t mean he has to. He also has no need for a royal family. He’d prefer to steer clear of them for good. Let’s just say Luke doesn’t even know what any of them look like.

Luke is amazing. He’s what you think of when you dream of a wonderful guy I think. He wants to protect his sisters and he wants to solve their problems. But what he doesn’t want is romance.

WELL. HE FINDS IT. IN THE FORM OF A GRACE KELLY LOOK-ALIKE.
As he gets to know Ellie he doesn’t know she’s a princess. So when he finds out he naturally feels a little betrayed and let down. But she was so real and so wonderful. Can he let her go?

Luke knows romance movies like no other man. He won’t admit it of course. He also has seen his share of masculine movies but this mix of movies is what makes Luke Luke. You’re going to love him. And you’ll love the bits of suspense and mystery surrounding the royal family and Luke.

Can Luke overcome himself and his limitations? What about the super sweet orphans? And what about Skymar? But maybe the most important thing, what about Luke’s family? You see, they mean everything to him, and he can’t just leave them.

Read this series in order. Don’t ask. Don’t think about reading out of order. Just don’t. You’ve been warned.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from JustRead Publicity Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

Another absolutely beautiful installment in this series by Pepper Basham. I was so excited to read Luke’s story since he was my favorite of the cousins and it did not disappoint. I found myself laughing so much reading this and the other books in the series. If you are looking for a clean rom com, you have found your book!

I have read and listened to the Audio of all these books. The voices match what I imagine would be the voices of the actual characters. I throughly enjoyed it more in audio.

All books can be read as standalones without any issues.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

Y’all, I love this book. This was a feel good book that just had me smiling through the entire thing. Absolute best part of this book was the relationships. The relationship between Luke and his sisters, Luke and Ellie‘s relationship, Luke and Ellie’s relationship with the towns people… Literally every relationship in this book was one that warmed the heart.

I loved all the book talk throughout this book. Luke’s sister harassing him about his meet cute with Ellie, and all the tropes that they cover cracked me up. The text between Luke and his sisters were hilariously fun and added so much to the story. Luke was the absolute best MMC, he is definitely one of the good guys. He’s one of my top Book boyfriends of all time.

Pepper Basham has done such an incredible job with her swooney, yet sweet romances. She brings the characters to life with such ease. It’s as if we are all old friends. This is book 3 of the Skymar series, I read it as a standalone. Each book is about a different sibling... You can best believe I’m going back to read books one and two. This is a must read, y’all.

The narrator’s did a fantastic job. They truly gave the characters life and were such a breath of fresh air. I will definitely recommend these 2 narrators and will listen to anything they produce.

Did you hear that? If you listen really closely, you'll hear me releasing a very HAPPY SIGH!!! I can't tell you how much I adore Luke Edgewood! And waiting so patiently to read his story after all of his scenes and interactions in the first two Skymar books! He is full of it! He's a broody, sarcastic, flannel wearing, hard-working man who is fiercely loyal to his family and friends. I have read the book and listened to an audiobook copy that was fantastic! The narrators were wonderful and brought these Edgewood siblings to life in such an enjoyable way!!! Definitely recommend it any which way you choose to enjoy this book! This is one book that I can read and listen to over and over again!!!

If you haven't read the first two books, go do so now! You have time before this one releases! You won't be disappointed to come to know Luke's character and all of his quirks and ups and downs and everything! There were plenty of times when reading all three of these books that I couldn't help but think how much fun it would be to know Luke. He would be such a fun friend to have! He might make you watch Rambo to pass that friendship test, and he will make you keep the glitter and sparkle and sunshineyness at a minimum or far away from him. But once you pass those qualifications, you'll never have a better, more trusting and caring friend than Luke.

And oh my heavens, get ready for the funniest meet-cute or meet-sarcastic you've ever read! If I had been drinking something while reading that scene, I 100% guarantee that I would have spit my drink out of my mouth from laughing. Luke and Aliana Roselynn St. Claire definitely get off on the wrong foot. And neither one knows who the other is or any clue about what is coming their way! *Snickers* And let me tell you, you're all going to love it!

This whole book is utterly delightful and heartwarming mixed with a little Rambo (you'll see what I mean)! I loved every scene with Luke and Ally in it. They have some ups and downs of their own but it's all worth seeing how it plays out.

The orphange, the renovations, the cabin, the fishing, the surprises, the Royal family, the dressing up (oh my!!!), the casual flannel dressing down, the orphans, the bodyguards (hee hee), the outdoors, the little moments, the BIG moments, the learning and growth, the vulnerability, the friendships, and of course the sweet, sweet love story!!!!!!!!

You don't want to miss this one! Skip watching a chick-flick or Hallmark movie and dive right into this one. I promise you won't regret it!

Content: Clean. Some kisses but nothing further. Some talk of scandal but nothing graphic.

I received a copy from the publisher, Thomas Nelson Fiction, via NetGalley. And an audiobook from HarperCollins Christian Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

I *loved* this! It truly felt like a warm hug, as so many others have said. After meeting and getting to know Luke in the first 2 books, I could not wait to read his story (all the teasers on social media did not help my patience). It was just wonderful! There were threads of faith seamlessly woven throughout, and there was plenty of humor to keep me smiling. I loved Luke and Ellie's whole relationship: the banter, the swoon, the maturity, and the tough decisions. They couldn't have been sweeter together. It was great to see more text conversations between the Edgewoods. I enjoyed watching glances of Izzy's and Penelope's stories continuing on. I'm sad to leave this delightful family and their Skymarian adventures, but I look forward to future series from this author!

The audiobook version was fantastic! The narrators are very talented. They did a great job switching between Appalachian and Scottish accents and, when necessary, differentiating between all the characters.

As an audiobook this was an absolute standout. It was impeccable and I loved the way it was done with a cast!

The accents were great and definitely made it more immersive. And the story in itself was such a joy to listen to. The characters are so endearing, I’m excited to go back through and read the previous books in the series.

Loyally, Luke by Pepper Basham was my first book I’ve read in this series and by Basham and it did not disappoint!

I found it easy to fall into the world of Skymar, so this can definitely be read as a stand-alone! I loved how sweet Luke is and I like how the relationship with Ellie develops over time.

It’s full of laugh out loud moment’s and some of the sweetest scenes. Loyally Luke is a clean Christian romance but I don’t think the religious aspect is a big deal so if you don’t normally read in the genre I think you will still really enjoy this book as a nice clean romance.

I listened to this book on audio and the fully voiced cast blew me out of the water! I absolutely loved all the actors and it really helped immerse me into the book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Loyally Luke has caused me, an avid reader, a big problem. Until now, while I have enjoyed every book of Pepper Basham’s I have read, the Mistletoe Countess was in an unassailable place in my heart. But reader friends, there’s something about Luke and Ellie. I hope you feel it too. They are magnificent.

Basham has done a very difficult things in terms of literary talent. She has brought two true opposites together and made them make far more sense together than they do apart. We have all round good guy, building contractor Luke Edgewood. He’s recruited to help with several building projects on the island of Skymar. The main work is to repair a dilapidated orphanage where he works under the eye of Princess Elianna St Claire, the youngest daughter of the king. Luke doesn’t care about royalty or celebrity, he just wants to do his bit to make life better .

His not caring about the nonsense of public life means he can speak to Ellie like a normal person, something she sorely needs. A series of poor choices has ruined her reputation and she now wants to quietly rebuild while working to improve conditions at the same orphanage.

The chemistry is undeniable. But rather than just the predictable physical attraction, their feelings are engaged at a soul level as Luke sees straight into Ellie’s heart and makes her feel safe. Except their homes are thousands of miles apart.

SHARED DELIGHT

I hope you love the story as much as I did. And the best news – there’s a Christmas novella coming later too. Hats off to Pepper Basham, she’s written a truly wonderful series.

Along with reading an early copy, I received an audiobook from the publisher via NetGalley. The audiobook is outstanding. The story is brought fully and gloriously to life by the talented voice artists involved. The opinions are all my own.

“Sometimes love means embracing the good, the bad. . . and even the impossible.”

Be still my hallmark loving heart! 😍 The Hallmark Chime! 🫠 This book! Gah! I don’t have words, and what I have to say has probably been said and better too! But my friends if you want to laugh, and swoon, and feel a sugary rush of sweetness then pick up this book by Pepper Basham, in any format because it’s all wonderful! I have read it, I have listened to it! I love love love the audiobook!!! Grab your favorite socks to knit on and just sit back and enjoy this delightful narration. It’s read by multiple narrators give the main characters Luke and Ellie fantastic voices, but we also get to hear Luke’s sisters voice come in when text and emails are read. It’s a lot of fun!

Here is the gist. Luke is a no nonsense, honest guy, who doesn’t need much. Give him rich strong black coffee, quiet cabin in the woods, and flannel and he is happy. Till he isn’t. And he is happy with his bachelorhood. Till he isn’t. And he can do without an uppity high class Grace Kelly princess in the flesh in his life. Till he can’t. And he most definitely is not living a Hallmark Movie life. Till he is! ✨ Chime ✨ Luke is a knight in shining flannel and he will make you melt like hot butter in a skillet!

Ellie may be a princess in real life but that hasn’t kept her from some real world consequences of poor choices in her youth. She’s been working hard to repair her reputation but it’s hard to build back up than to tear something down. Ellie is very relatable despite her royal status and I love her for that. I love her and Luke and the whole Edgewood family.

If you are looking for a good arm chair travel itinerary then definitely add the whole Edgewood family books to your TBR list.

Read this if you love:
💕 Handsome men in flannels
💕 Scottish flare
💕 Hallmark movies (or don’t then you can sympathize with Luke 😉)
💕 Off limits or forbidden love
💕 Fun movie and pop culture references
💕 Sibling banter
💕 Royal Romance
💕 Kissing book

Thank you to the author and publisher for sending me a copy of the book and audiobook to read and review. All thoughts are mine.

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."

Loyally, Luke is one of my most anticipated books of 2024 and it did not disappoint! It gave me ALL the feels!!! This series (comprised of Authentically, Izzy, Positively, Penelope, and Loyally,Luke) is truly something special. It's the literary equivalent of curling up by a warm fire on a rainy day with your softest blanket and favorite warm beverage. It literally warms your soul.

While I would love to see this series continue...Luke's book was the absolute perfect way to end it. I will be re-reading this series for years to come.

The audiobook for this novel is one of the best I've heard. The voices were well matched to the characters and the cadence and speed of the performance was well done. Christopher Ashman, who narrated all three books in this series, was excellent as Luke. His nuanced performance perfectly captured Luke's gruff exterior while also exposing his heart of gold.

*While you could read this book as a stand alone, I would highly recommend reading the books in order.

Thanks to Net galley and the publisher for the arc of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”

Dear Reader,
My name is Luke Edgewood, and there are few things in life that I require. Mainly black coffee. And flannel. And lots of solitude. And my dogs, Chewy and Indie. What I don’t need is romance, so I have no plans to change my thirty-year-old bachelor status anytime soon. Nope. Bah humbug. The End.

Or maybe not. Because I’ve met a Grace Kelly look-alike who is annoying . . . until she isn’t. But she is impossible. As in, nothing can happen between us because she is a literal princess. Basically, the whole situation has turned into an ooey gooey magical snow globe of romantic tropes complete with cute kids and an actual ball. Now, even my sentences are starting to sound like mush. Ugh. Send high levels of testosterone my way—I’m going to need it.
Loyally, Luke

“‘What’s a Hallmark movie?’ She 𝘸𝘢𝘴 perfect. ‘You don’t need to know. Ever.’” 👏🏻 🤣🤣

Five stars! Presh. Absolutely precious. This is like a Hallmark movie on the written page. It’s a sweet, hopeful, grumpy-meets-sunshine story that will grab your heart.

I read the first book in this series, Authentically, Izzy, and just reread my review. And I was BEGGING for a book about Luke anddd here it is! I loved the banter between the siblings and the real life tropes mentioned throughout. It’s like a story within a story. Although this is Skymar #3 it works just fine as a stand alone.

The audiobook is narrated by a full cast and is utterly fantastic!! This book. This series. Ahh juat so enchanting and lovely.

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins Christian Publishing, Thomas Nelson, and the author for the ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This is the third book in this series and I have loved every single one. I love the development of the characters and their love stories. I have laughed through each story and enjoyed the hater between the siblings.
Can’t wait to read another book by this author.
Thanks for the advanced copy.

Loyally, Luke is the third book by Pepper Basham centered around the Edgewood siblings. This story is about their brother Luke and his adventures in the island country of Skymar, somewhere near Scotland. Luke is a master carpenter and stone mason who has been brought in by wealthy Lewis Gray to restore and renovate an old castle which now houses an orphanage and school. Unbeknownst to Luke, the person overseeing the project, Ms. St. Clare, is actually the youngest royal, Princess Eliana.

Having first encountered each other in an airport coffee shop mix up, first impressions were not so good. Eliana needs a big win on this restoration project. Having been a very reckless and naive youth that set the tabloids on fire, Eliana has spent three years on the down low working on her issues and trying to prove herself through her good works in the North Country. If Luke is the best person to lead this reno, then Ellie will do her best to assist and support him. As they work together and Eliana sees many sides to Luke’s personality from his leadership working with young teens to teach them some of his skills to the two young girls he interacts with so kindly and the way Luke works with community members to get the job completed on schedule, that initial impression is flipped and now there is a story of Hallmark proportions.

This is a well told tale addressing first impressions, second chances, and how sometimes when the will is strong enough then the way will be revealed. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it.

I have adored every minute of this Skymarian journey that the Edgewood family has been on! From Authentically, Izzy to Positively, Penelope and now onto Loyally, Luke, these cousins have brought so much delight into my literary world.

Handyman Luke returns to Skymar to work on a remodeling project for one of the countryside orphanages. While there, he meets "Ellie," a beautiful and somewhat uptight young woman—who he has no idea is actually Princess Elliana. Luke sees someone who needs a friend, and is especially happy to meet a woman who has never watched a Hallmark movie.

Princess Elliana is about to reenter royal life after taking a lengthy sabbatical to recover from a string of poor choices. She's determined to do better and serve her country with single-minded determination. Luke is a breath of fresh air—not only because he doesn't know her past, but also because of his straightforward view of the world.

Luke and Ellie's friendship and attraction grows, but the day comes when her identity is revealed. Is there a way they could be together? Luke has a business and loved ones in North Carolina. Ellie is a princess of a European country. How could things ever work out?

If you like Hallmark movies or have an appreciation for warm and rugged heroes, this book is for you! I hope you'll check out this series and come to love Izzy, Penelope, Luke, and company as much as I do. The audiobook is tons of fun as well.

I received a copy of the book from the author and the audiobook from NetGalley. All thoughts in this review are my own.

I absolutely LOVED this book! The audiobook was fantastic and the narrators were SO GOOD! The storyline in my opinion was a cross between a Hallmark movie and The Princess Diaries movies which are two of my favorite things! Luke Edgewood is a simple guy who loves his flannels, his dogs, and of course black coffee. He ends up going over to a country called Skymar for a short-term construction job at one of their orphanages. He then ends up meeting the princess of Skymar, Ellie who is wonderful. Their two characters fit perfectly together. Also Luke's sisters really want him to end up with Ellie. (I won't spoil if he does or does not). The text messages between Luke and his sisters were some of my favorite parts. I highly recommend this book as it has forced proximity, humor, and of course romance.

Loyally, Luke is the third book in the Skymar series by Pepper Basham, and another impactful, entertaining, feel-good story. This series is really best read in sequence to truly understand the background of the characters and inner-dynamics of the family members and their histories. In this story, we obviously get Luke’s story, the “grumpy”, but lovable, devoted brother of Izzy and Penelope who previously had their own books. He will definitely win you over in this story, if he hasn’t already!

These are love stories that are filled with joy, hope, humor, and just enough reality to make them feel believable. They have light faith elements that are uplifting and they are all quick reads. This novel is mostly written in a narrative format, whereas the previous two books were in more of an email-correspondence format. I highly recommend this unique, cozy, delightful story and series!

This story also comes in audio-format, courtesy of Harper Collins Christian Pub, and is narrated by seven different voice actors who add truly bring the story to life.

I absolutely loved this book! It's easily my favorite in the entire Skymar series.

I've always enjoyed Luke's character in the other books, finding his humor and dry wit so fun (my favorite!). It was such a treat to read about him finding love. The banter, the tropes—everything you want in a love story is here. Plus, this book can definitely be enjoyed as a standalone.

This was less email-y as the other two, which I personally prefer! And it had WAY more faith intertwined with Luke’s character, which I LOVED. Pepper Basham did an incredible job creating such compelling characters.

If you have the chance, I highly recommend the audiobook version. It’s hands down the best in the series, with around five different voices that make for an incredibly fun listening experience.

Thank you, Pepper Basham, for another wonderful book!

I had the privilege of reading an Advanced copy of Pepper Basham’s third book in the Skymar series, Loyally Luke! Squeal! I have loved every single one of these books, but Loyally Luke is my favorite! I was so excited to get the chance to listen to the audiobook!
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I love the book Loyally Luke, by Pepper Basham! I already reviewed the physical book, but I could not wait to listen to the audiobook and was very excited when Netgalley approved my request for an early listeners copy. There are three books in the collection of the Skymar stories and they center around a group of siblings. The first two books have the same three narrators for the siblings, but the third book, Loyally Luke has two different narrators for the sisters. I was grateful that @pepperbasham gave her readers the heads up. It took a few chapters to adjust and thankfully Luke is the same wonderful narration of @christooherashman. Once I adjusted the narration was wonderful and the audiobook was every bit as delightful as the previous audiobooks have been.
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This book is so delightful in it’s witty banter and beautiful chemistry between a woman in Skymar and a country boy from the Appalachian mountains of the USA. Luke is a totally lovable humble and sexy country boy and the woman is, will you need to read the book to find out! I was gushing at the end of this book! Pepper Basham is a phenomenal author! She has such clever dialogue, she just pulls me into the story and makes it so believable! There is a good deal of wisdom in her writing and some of her sentences just left me in awe!
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This is a 5 star feel good book that will have you laughing along and loving the story. If it were a physical book you’d hug it at the end. The audiobook will be several hours of pure enjoyment! I highly recommend.
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Thank you @netgalley and @harpercollinschristian for the ALC. The book was published a couple of weeks ago and I recommend you grab a copy immediately. Frankly, I’d recommend reading the trilogy!

Such a cute book, very fun and witty, such a great look into a Sister;s love for her bother to find love and Happiness. I read this as a standalone I am going to read the series now for sure!

*I received a gifted copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own!*

I absolutely adored this book!! The Skymar series has been such a treat to read and Loyally Luke was so much fun. This is book 3 in the series. While each book could technically be read as a standalone, I really recommend reading the series in order because you do catch up with the characters from the past books quite a lot. Luke is such a kind and dependable guy. I loved that he finally got to fall in love in this one!

One of my favorite parts about this series is that it is often told through text and emails. It is such a fun and unique addition to these books. It really allows me to get immersed into the story and make me feel as if I am talking to the characters. Pepper Basham writes in a way that makes you never want to stop reading. Her characters are so much fun, so relatable, and hilarious situations are sure to ensue. Despite Loyally Luke having the ability to have me literally laugh out loud, there is also so much heart to this book.

Luke and Ally’s relationship almost starts out as an enemies to lovers situation. I was right there beside Penelope kicking my feet and giggling at all the trope-y situations they fell into. Their relationship turns so sweet!! The way they care for the children of Skymar but also in the way they respect each other throughout the book was just so kind and meaningful. I really loved all the characters in this book (Penelope is my GIRL and I loved getting to catch up with her life)!

I mostly read this one through audiobook format and let me just say the narrators were perfection! This book had multiple narrators for different character POVs and it just added to the story all the more. I’m pretty picky when it comes to audiobooks but I really enjoyed this one.

Overall, I just loved Loyally Luke! It was such a fun and sweet story. I couldn’t get enough of the characters. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a sweet, no spice, romcom!

What an adorable story!!! I fell in love with Luke! He was darling and just made you feel fuzzy. I loved the storyline and the plot. This was such a fun read. highly recommend.

I listened to this book as an Arc from NetGalley.

This is my first Pepper Basham book and I am happily surprised. Normally I don’t enjoy multiple povs but this was great. I really liked the royalty/ commoner trope. I’m looking forward to reading the previous books, I wish I had done so before reading this book so I would know more about his family and the country.

I thought I really loved Authentically, Izzy and Positively Penelope but then I read/listened to Loyally, Luke and I really fell in love with Luke and Ellie! It really was my favorite of this series. Such a great conclusion and I loved the banter back and forth between him and his sisters. Ellie was just perfect for her knight in flannel. It was such a fun romance and I couldn't get enough of it!

The narrators were just awesome too. Very enjoyable to listen to. Great job to all!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 14 May 2024

I absolutely loved Loyally, Luke by Pepper Basham. I didn’t want the book to end. I have read the entire series, and I have become throughly attached to the Edgewoods. While reading, it is like visiting old friends. This book made me laugh. It made me cry. It had me on the edge of my seat hoping everything worked out for Luke and Ellie. The audiobook of Loyally, Luke was amazing. The voice actors did a great job. They made the book come to life. I can’t wait to listen again.

I was provided a copy of the book from the author/publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

The cover was the main reason I wanted to read this book. I went in blind and skimmed the summary. I didn't know that this book is faith based, which wasn't a big deal for me. It was mainly about praying and how both Luke's and Ellie's faith were both aligned - which helped their friendship grow stronger. Luke, is such a green flag of a man. He is very close with his sisters and is always willing to provide a helping hand to those in need. Even though he doesn't want a relationship, and isn't looking for one - maybe his encounters with Ellie will change that. Ellie is finally setting foot back into society, after three years and doesn't want to tarnish her reputation. Even though they both want to deny their feelings, at some point they can no longer hide how they feel. But, can they manage to continue whatever is going on, when their they both live such different lives?

Thanks to #netgalley and the publisher for this amazing audible. Everything was perfect about this book.

I have LOVED this series! I'm so glad that the sarcastic, snarky, completely lovable big brother Luke got his story.

Luke is the only male in a family of sisters and is the lone holdout in the Hallmark movie love fest that they have going on. He's more a Rambo, or Mission: Impossible kind of guys guy, complete with the tool belt and the flannel shirts. While his two sisters have both met their matches in the island nation of Skymar, he's only there to lead a building project. He doesn't need romance, but his sister, Penelope, thinks he's going to find his "twue wuv" like she and Izzy both did.

No way, no how, is what Luke believes, until he starts to see a Grace Kelly look-alike everywhere he goes, including on his job site. She says she's there to "help" but she has no construction experience. The more he and Ellie work together his annoyance turns to ... more. He's stunned to learn that the Ellie he's been working with every day is really Princess Elliana, the youngest member of the royal family of Skymar.

Ellie is working to regain her place as a "working royal" since her fall from grace and eventual time in rehab took her out of the public eye. She decided to dip her toes into helping by refurbishing an orphanage in the north of her country where she has been hiding out (and staying out of the press) for the last 3 years. Working with the American, Luke, is refreshing because he has no idea who she really is. She's just "Ellie" to him, and she likes it that way. When someone from the press gets wind of where she is, and starts printing half-truths, she knows her anonymity has run out. Will Luke still see Ellie when he sees her, or will he now see Princess Elliana? Can they ever be together when her parents have a list of "acceptable" suitors for her, and Luke hasn't made the cut?

Readers who love lots of humor with their romance will enjoy Loyally, Luke. I think I liked his story the best of the 3 Skymar books, but since each featured a very different sister's story, they all had unique drawing points. While this can be read as a stand-alone, readers will enjoy it so much more if they read Authentically, Izzy and Positively, Penelope first! It gets all the stars from me! (And, if you can, listen to the audio version instead of reading it! I loved hearing the Scottish accents from the actors.)

I enjoyed seeing more of Luke and his knight in shining flannel persona! This was a great read in the continuation of the Skymar series. Ultimate message is we are all just people trying to find our way in life.

what a cute book. form the very start i was sucked in. I love a good silly quirky snarky romance. and this is all of those things!

There is something truly wonderful about finding a new author to read. I’m new to Pepper Basham’s books and I’m excited to read more.

I absolutely loved this book. The story of a rogue man and a princess is reminiscent of my favorite rouge and princess (Han and Solo). Luke has a heart of gold. He was the perfect grumpy contractor. I appreciated how down to earth he was and how he always himself. Ellie, was so lovely. A down on her luck princess, trying to work her way back into the public eye in a positive way.

The dual POV was perfectly done. I loved the texts between the characters. Maeve especially was a favorite. Some of her lines had me laughing out loud. Being new to Basham’s books, I was still able to get a sense of family and love between Luke and his family. Penelope and Izzy were so funny and wanting a HEA for their brother.

I loved how the ending came together. It was a lovely gift.

Huge thank you to the publisher for the Netgalley approval for the audio and the ebook. I enjoyed listening to the beautiful accents. The narrators did an amazing job of bringing these fantastic characters to live.

I can’t wait to read the other books in this series and more books from this talented author.

Oh, Luke. This is just the perfect way to wrap up the Skymar series, with the rugged exterior and warm and gooey interior of Luke finally taking center stage! We knew it was going to take a special woman to break through his shell, but a real live honest to goodness princess? That is comic gold. From their first rendezvous in the broom closet to helping Ellie check off a list of things she’s never done Luke is chivalrous, mostly kind (in a very blunt Luke-ish sort of way) and he discovers that this woman he’s very attracted to happens to actually be the Princess. They’re the perfect foil for each other—he is the grumpy to her sunshine, the down to her up, the left to her right. Their relationship as it grew was so lovely to watch, and it was especially fun to revisit characters we met in previous Skymar books. Even though this book didn’t hinge as heavily on epistolary factors as previous books (if they did, we’d be looking at a novella at best…Luke is a man of few words!) it flowed effortlessly from a hidden identity trope to a blossoming relationship that I personally adored. The audiobook is everything, and I cannot highly recommend this book enough! I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BOOK!!!! I hadn’t read the others in this series but I will go back and do so!! It’s so absolutely amazing! It’s full of amazing and powerful dialogue. I love all the movie references and banter. Perfect.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for giving me the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

I adore the world of Skymar and was in so much excited anticipation for Luke's story. And I was not disappointed. I loved catching up with Penelope and Izzys lives and exploring the town and history of Skymar more. Luke had such a lovely sweet romance, it was giving me all the Gilbert Blythe vibes! 4.5 Stars rounded up!

Thanks to netgalley, the author and publisher for an E-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

This quick and enjoyable read was a delightful escape, populated with well-written characters that felt fun and engaging throughout the story. The author's engaging prose and witty dialogue made for a captivating experience that left me wanting more. The fast-paced plot kept me hooked from beginning to end, and the satisfying conclusion left me with a warm and fuzzy feeling. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a lighthearted and entertaining read that will leave them feeling uplifted and satisfied.

I love this family and have enjoyed reading about each of their experiences with "finding 'the One.'" And "Loyally, Luke" was just as good as the rest of books in this series of standalones!

As the only boy in a family of sisters, Luke's had to put up with a lot of stuff along the way, especially Hallmark movies and rom-coms... So, he overcompensates by steeping himself in Rambo and Indiana Jones movies, and wearing flannel.

He temporarily leaves his home in the Blue Ridge Mountains to do some short-term restoration work in the small European country of Skymar, where he has a meet-cute with a Grace Kelly lookalike. But he soon learns that she is heading up one of the projects he has come to Skymar to work on. So, there's no avoiding her.

There are fun jabs at various romance tropes throughout the book, and I love Luke as a person. He is so wise and sweet, while pretending to be gruff and grumpy. There were some pretty wonderful conversations between Luke and Ellie throughout the story that were swoonworthy.

Thank you to Pepper Basham, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite contemporary writers, Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

I absolutely loved this book. The narrator did a great job. Very easy to listen to. Pepper Basham can do no wrong.

I have enjoyed this fun series and Loyally, Luke was a great addition to it. Luke is such a likable, good guy, not to mention swoon-worthy flannel loving carpenter. He is in Skymar to do some remodel work. As the only boy in a family of three sisters, two biological and one a cousin raised by his parents, Luke knows more about girl movies than a fellow should. To compensate, he watches plenty of action flicks, like Rambo, Mission Impossible, and others. This is a lighthearted and humorous story with laugh out loud moments and with many sweet and romantic ones as Luke works on an orphanage with and develops a friendship with Ellie, a real princess. There is an attraction but how can a country boy from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina have more with a real princess? Sweet romance with a foundation of faith. I recommend for those who love romance in an impossible situation.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts.

This is such a lovely book. It us part of a series (which I was not aware of), but it makes perfect sense as a standalone too. We have a southern gentleman, an actual real life princess, an island I'd love to visit, cute moments with orphans, funny moments with siblings, and a romance like no other. Really enjoyed the audiobook, big thanks to Netgalley for the chance to review this gem.

I loved this so much. The story, the characters, the writing...everything was just so good and so much fun. The title was actually what made me want to read this book and I still think the title fits the book perfectly.

I loved this book so much! Luke is the BEST! It was a joy to return to Skymar with these delightful characters. I loved Ellie, she was such a great character and I loved how multi-faceted she was! It was tons of fun to watch Luke’s reactions to the romcom-ish, Hallmark movie worthy scenario he found himself in!

These characters were so cute! The narrator was perfect! I loved the story and it was so sweet! I enjoyed this book! The characters were lovely and so was the narrator. I was engaged and the writing was interesting!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a copy!